Joseph olmsted



(No Model.)

J. OLMSTED.

ALARM FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

No, 292,761. Patented Jan. 29, 1884. 1 257.1. V

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFrcE.

Josnrn OLMSTED, or NEW YORK, N. -Y., Assrenon TO THE OLMSTED nnnornro'menr AND rowan COMPANY, or SAME rLncn.

ALARM F OR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 292,761, dated January 29, 1884.

' Application filed June :12, 1882. Renewed November 17,1883. (X0 model.)

f0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Josnrn OLMSIED, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Electric Lamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.

It sometimes occurs,when a number of electric lamps are run in series, that the are becomes unduly' elongated in one or more of the lamps, and that the feed mechanism appears incapable of performing its allotted functions. This elongation, however caused, is likely to injure the lamp in which it occurs, besides disturbing the electrical conditions of the circuit. To prevent the formation of such arcs as injure the lamps, or to protect the lamps when too much resistance is interposed in the main or are circuit, it has been customaryheretofore to employ cut-outs or shunting devices of several kinds. An objection to the use of these devices often arises, from the fact that some are themselves liable to be burned out, while others are not positive in their action, and for this purpose I have devised a plan for preventing injury to the lamps from possible elongations or permanent extinguishments of the are, by giving a positive and unmistakable warning to attendants or not ring the bell; but should the are be inter-[ rupted or abnormally lengthened, the bell will be caused to ring, and will continue to ring as long as the elongation or interruption lasts. By this device attention is directed to lamps in danger, and they may be saved from injury when otherwise the occurrence of a dangerously long are would pass unnoticed until perhaps it had destroyed a portion of the feed mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the general character and purpose of my invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a single lamp,the derived circuit of which contains an indicating-bell. Fig. 2 is a diagram representing an electric circuit containing an arbitrary number of lamps, and devices included in the derived circuits of the lamps for ringing an alarm or operating an indicator included in a separate circuit.

I would state that the indicating mechanism is especially applicable to lamps having derived circuits, such as are. commonly used at the present time; The specific'character of the lamps themselves is not, however, de-

scribed herein in detail.

The various ways in which the invention may be applied will be understood by'refe'rence to the drawings.

In Fig. 1, where the crossbar only of a lamp is shown, A designates the electro-magnet includedin the main or are circuit, and B the magnet in the derived or shunt circuit about the lamp. In this circuit (designated by G C) is included an electro-inagnetic device 0011- structed to give, directly or indirectly, an audible signal. In the present case this device is an ordinary alarm-bell that may be placed up-:

on the lamp-frame, or arranged in the immediate vicinity of the lamp. The preferred form of alarm for this purpose consists of a magnet, D, a spring-arm, E, carrying armature e, and a bell, F. A contact-stop, f, is arranged in the path of movement of the arm E, which latter is in electrical contact with the circuit-wire O C. When the current circulating in magnet D is suficient to attract the arm E, the movement of the arm cuts out the magnet and immediately recedes. In this way vibratory movement is obtained without interrupting the circuit 0.

Instead of using a separate bell for eachlamp, one bell may be usedior all the lamps of a circuit, and in this case an 'annunciator may be employed in conjunction with the bell to indicate at once the lamp that requires attention. I prefer, however, to employ the ap- 1 not possiblein such a plan.

paratus illustrated in Fig. 2. In this diagram G designates an electric circuit from a generator, H.

L L are a given number of lamps included in the circuit, and A and B are the main and shunt magnets, respectively, of the several lamps. In the derived circuits C O of the lamps are eleetro-magnets K K, in the face of which vibrate pivoted armatures a a, constructed to operate as detents for disks M M. These disks are of metal, and are mounted in bearings, so as to turn freely, rotation being imparted to them by clock-work weights or otherwise. Springs S S, connected with the ends of cross-circuits between the conductors NN of a local circuit, including abell, I, bear upon the peripheries and metallic shafts of the disks DIM. The periphery of disk M is insulated except at one point, that of disk M except at two points or other arbitrary arrangements may be made for the transmission of distinctiye signals. Should one of the lamps, as L, be in danger, as from an abnormally-long are, its electro-magnet K is energized suiiicientl y to attract the armature a and release the disk M. For every revolution of the disk the circuit N N is closed twice and two distinct signals made by the bell P, indicating to the attendant that lamp L or No. 2 is in danger.

The hell 1? may be used with an annunciator or indicator in many well-understood ways, if so desired, and in other respects a great many variations of the general plan herein described are possible, the greater number of which at once suggest themselves.

The invention is applicable, generally, to systems or circuits containing electric lamps, and even to such as extend over a considerable space or distance, for considerable time will elapse after the bell begins to ring before the lamp is injured, so that an attendant may reach the lamp in time; or on the ringing of the bell the whole circuit may be instantaneously interrupted, which in most cases will reestablish the normal conditions of the line.

I am aware that indicating mechanism has been used in conjunction with an electric 'lamp, and that the same has been actuated by It is obvious, for instance, that when the main circuit is employed to actuate a signal for indicating a change of condition in a lamp only one lamp can be run in the circuit. Further advantages result from the fact that an abnormal lengthcning of the are, which would be signaled by an indicator in the shunt, would not necessarily be by one in the main circuit, for if the current be a powerful one a simple lengthening of the are will not generally be sufficient to vary to the requisite degree the flow of current to operate an armature.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with an electric lamp having a shunt or derived circuit, as described, of an electrical device included in said derived circuit, and adapted to give, directly or indirectly, an audible signal, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with an electric lamp having a shunt or derived circuit, as described, of a signaling device included in said derived circuit, adapted to operate on a predetermined increase in the flow of current in the derived circuit, as set forth.

3. The combination, with an electric lamp having a shunt or derived circuit, as described, of a signaling device included in said derived circuit, and adapted on a predetermined increase of the flow of currentin'said circuit to operate without breaking the circuit, as set forth.

4. The combination of a main circuit containing electric lamps, shunt-circuits around each lamp, a local circuit containing an alarmv or indicating mechanism, and means, substantially as described, included in or connected with the shunt-circuits, and adapted to operate on a predetermined increase of the current flowing therein, and thereby bring into action the alarm or indicator, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of June, 1882.

JOSEPH OLMSTED.

lVitnesses:

PARKER \V. PAGE, \V. H A LLEIT 11 1 Lu rs. 

